Beer: Ratings & Reviews

Reviews by FernMaster:

I've decided to write this review as if I was the conclusion of a trendy network show. After the link finishes buffering read on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwqhdRs4jyA&playnext=1&videos=EMK9E6j-i1c&feature=artistob(copy and pasting may be necessary.)

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

To me this is a snifter beer, plus it's a fun word to say. Sadly all I had was a pint glass, I had great company so that counter balances it completely.

I went back to my former home of Columbia, Mo for the weekend and along the way I stopped by Gomer's Independence to acquire some awesome beer; once of which was Hel & Verdoemenis. I bought this because the $22 price tag was just as exciting to me as the limited release, this beer was 1 of 1094, I had to have it. Plus, this was amends to a friend of mine, who our summer plans were to visit each other in their respective town and show them the other the merits of living in either, her Saint Louis, MO me Kansas City, MO (KC-MO, Whoooo). Sadly our summer plans fell apart, but this beer was a backbone of a great evening.

I brought this over to her apartment and after enjoying the hell out of some Fantome we opened this. H&V is a beer that cannot be enjoyed under normal circumstances, this is a beer that Denny Crane and Alan Shore would have enjoyed on a their balcony at the end of another amazing episode; which is what we did. Sitting on her balcony, people watching, enjoying some beer I began to reflect on my former home, my college town and miss the fuck out of it. This is where the song comes into play. Sitting on the balcony drinking an imperial stout that had zero head, and no carbonation, pitch black as dark, I began to look at how limited my experiences in Columbia were as to this beer. How there was much more life their I want to live, but I was glad for it's fleeting moments, because of it's exclusivity, I enjoyed it the most.

A wonderful smell emerged from the glass, a complex coffee scent that would make the biggest coffee nerds turn their heads, a rich chocolate scent, maybe some raisins, with a hint of smoke and alcohol, I was enchanted. This was like walking onto Mizzou's campus for the first time without my parents. A sense I loved, but wasn't overwhelming. I could get used to this. As time passed, it warmed up and more complexity was added to the flavor hitting your nose.

I love balconies. They add a sort of dynamic to whatever happens, from sitting and reading, to drinking, to simply playing around on your computer as the sun falls. This beer and the irreverent dialogue that follows is 1 in 1094. The odds may not seem that great, but when you're the 1, that's the best odds that could happen to you in the world. The taste of this beer was everything that the look may have lacked and the nose eluded to. This rich, robust chocolate flavor along with the coffee, which dazzled my roommates roommate (who dislikes beer) was perfectly balanced and it left such an amazing after taste that you were happy to empty the pockets for this beer; the smoke was there as was the alcohol itself which burned a little, but in a good way. I may have noticed some plum or other sort of fruit along those lines in the beer. It was an absolute joy to drink.

The mouthfeel was sadly weak, like my degree. The mouthfeel was watery, weak and it lacked character. As you drank more and as it warmed up it became clearer why it was good and why you were glad you spent the time with it, it became better with age.

Drinkablity seems like a laugh in all honesty as there's so few out in there in the world. There may be others like it, but there's truly so few. It's expensive, but as you drink you realize it's worth the investment. You can hold onto it for twenty-five years (as it says on the label) and it still may be good. It will never be as good as when you were with it the moment you bought it, that evening enjoying it with your closest friends at that time. Twenty-five years is a long time from now, priorities and you will change by then, enjoy it the moment you buy it (it's more than enough of a reason to open it) with you friends on a balcony - don't drink this alone - there's only you, your friends and now, your memories can come later.

Taste leans more towards the sweet side with flavors of chocolate liqueur, molasses and dark fruits. Kind of a burnt tobacco and coffee grounds thing going on. Definitely getting the brown malts as well, along with some light hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel is more or less not carbonated, which honestly isn't a huge deterrent for this beer, but it does take away from full enjoyment. Other than that, good medium heftiness, impressively hidden alcohol.

I've had a few bottles of this and I gotta say it really is a mixed bag. This one that I happened to review unfortunately was pretty 'meh' compared to others I've had. De Molen's big beers seem to either be a real treat or a missed opportunity, I wish they were more consistent. I will update scores/add notes with further experiences with this one.

A: Dark brown with plenty of small floaters in the liquid. A small dark beige head settles rather fast and leaves basically no lacings.

S: Huge roasted aromas - very powerful. It actually turns to burnt every now and then. Roasted malts, heavy roasted coffee, charred wood, spices, chocolate, faint licorice, perhaps some fruity notes. There is also noticeable hints of rather fresh hops. Light alcohol. Very powerful smell, but not very balanced due to the massive roasted character.

T: Wonderful coffee flavors - espresso, heavy roasted and almost burnt coffee, tannins. Big sweet malty backbone with a distinct roasted character. Rich notes of dark chocolate. Some licorice and dark fruits, but they don't really manage to balance the deep roasted flavors. Very faint notes of hops. The finish is powerful with a coffee-like roasted bitterness, some alcohol, spices and lingering notes of general roasted flavors.

M: The body is full, but kind of light compared to some other examples of the style. Quite a lot of carbonation as well making the beer seems rather lively. Towards the end, it gets a little smoother.

D: I really liked this one, but with the richness of the roasted flavors of coffee and malts, it's rather demanding. So it's definitely a sipper. Would absolutely like to try it again, and since I have another one in the cellar, I will.

Poured into a snifter jet black with a tight sticky deep beige head that held thru the duration of the glass.French roast coffee and bitter chocolate mainly in the nose,as it warms a sweet shot of alcohol fruitiness comes into play.Highly roasted on the palate with some dark fruit-like sweetness,mocha flavors are quite big wich was to be expected.It's a very good imperial stout although it doesn't have any one thing that jumps out at ya,still it's great for the style.

This was opened up at a March tasting with Tony, I'm finally getting around to transcribing my notes.

75cL bottle with a bottled on date on September 18th 2008. Bottle number 159/570. Poured into a snifter.

It poured a deep black with a nice mocha head that lingers for a while before settling down.

The first thing that hits me is the lack of sweetness that other RIS' have of a similar strength. It's actually quite a refreshing change of pace. The smells that are present are strong bitter chocolate and some straw/grain notes but not nearly as roasty as I'm used to.

The bitterness is very evident in this beer. Paired with the bitterness are a ton of roasty bordering on burnt malt with a ton of bitter chocolate flavors. There is a little medicinal alcohol taste on the back end and that is the only flavor I'm not liking on this stout.

This beer is very full bodied and I'm very surprised by the final gravity reading on the bottle that this beer appears so dry and be light on the tongue to me. Reading the bottle beforehand I was expecting a thick sweet syrup of a beer. Due to this perceived dryness I thought drinkability was above average for the style.

Found at some random-ass place in Rome by the Pantheon called Baguetteria del Fico.Wife wanted the De Molen Tasputin but they were out and the recommended this and must say, was a very good recommendation.Poured from a bottle into a pilsner glass. Not ideal but still better than from the bottle. Poured a deep brown/black, not the least bit translucent and no head to speak of.Tons of chocolate!! Flavor and nose. Very tasty! Got better and better as it warmed and was sad that it ended.Not sure ill ever see this in the states but if I do, imma grab a few.

Wow, I mean, WOW. Pours jet black, opaque, with a small ring of brown bubbles for a head. No lacing (in my tulip glass). Aroma of baker's chocolate, chocolate cake, and fudge, along with that awesome smell of a cigarette when it is first lit. Tobacco, leather, and big time alcohol in this RIS. Low-lying, silky, and heavy on the tongue, this one delivers. Long, tart, robust finish. More roasty chocolate, dark chocolate, and burnt coffee up front. More tobacco, like chewing bourbon-soaked Red Man. The label touts Hallertau hops,and they truly come through in the back. This is one big, bitter bad-ass RIS, and I am so happry I dropped $20 on it. Killer beer.

The roast and chocolate are dominant in the flavor along with a mild coffee component. The ash character isn't a distraction though there is a strong, boozy element as well. Tasty and complex--changes as it warms.

Medium to full mouthfeel, a bit oily, and very little carbonation.

An incredibly aromatic and flavorful beer, but I wish it had some more bubbles.

Pours a little lighter than black, a thick and viscous dark brown liquid with a creamy hazel-colored foam.

The nose is big and brooding, rich and velvety dark chocolate with butterscotch and vanilla. Not much of coffee comes through, it reminds me more of dark roasted nuts, molasses and hops, which gives it a nice balance with mostly pine breezing through.

The flavor is big and packs a punch, more bitterness and coffee notes here than on the nose. The alcohol gives it an Irish Coffee-like character which is not at all a bad thing, if you know what I mean! The chocolate, caramel and herbal hop flavors linger on the tongue for well over a minute, this is one to savor slowly as a dessert, or by itself if that's how you roll.

Pours black with a very thin layer of tan foam on top. The head recedes into a thin ring around the glass leaving almost no lacing but some decent legs.

Smells of heavily roasted malts with hints of dark chocolate and char. Also present are mild amounts of dry oak.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Strong roasted malt flavors kick things off with hints of char and tobacco. Midway through the sip the flavor profile sweetens a bit with the addition of dark chocolate. The sip dries out a bit near the end with hints of woodiness. The ending is solidly bitter.

Mouthfeel is OK. It's got a nice thickness however the carbonation is almost non-existent.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall I thought this was a well done beer but for the price I'd have thought the carbonation would be a bit more consistent. Still, it's worth a shot if you're willing to spend the money to find out for yourself.

T/M: More of the same in the taste. Very complex roast, some bitterness from that. More of the coffee and bitter chocolate play in the back of the rich, milk chocolate and fresh baked soft cookies. Alcohol is there but smooth and complex. Body is about full with very high carbonation that makes it feel almost airy... over carbonation from infection?

D: Big ABV and complex but damn is this tasty. I have to force myself to take my time. This could age beautifully.